Remembering Jeff Gwaltney

Today is the one year anniversery of my friend Jeff Gwaltney's death in an accident on the way to work on our house. Jeff was a great guy, and I think of him often still, and pass by where this terrible accident occurred every time I go into town. The week prior to his death was a beautiful warm week of Ozark winter sunshine, and we had enjoyed so much becoming good friends and so much commaraderie. My friend and nieghbor Tim Fletcher had also worked with us that week and had really got to know and like Jeff. Tim was on the scene as a first responder at Jeff's accident, and had to make the call to inform me of his passing. It was all a very tough time making sense of this, becouse there was no sense, and just a cruel timing of fate. The story just continued getting worse as the other man in the crash was charged with vehicular manslaughter and ended up taking his own life. I know this is a real downer to talk about, but I always want to remember and talk about Jeff. He would be really proud of the way things are coming together. The day before Jeff died, I bought a piece of his artwork entitled 'Van Gouge's Twin Brother' . We will be showing it off in our new home, and will always tell the story of our brief friendship with Jeff.  Rest in Peace Brother, we have missed you and your energy and sense of humer.

Shooting Star Hot Tub

So, I step outside to go down to the house last night and the wind is blowing hard. I can hear the creek all the way up here and the sky is brilliant. I drive the 1/2 mile down to the site, and walk out on the awesome deck. WOW, the creek is roaring so loud you can't hear anything else, the wind is blocked becouse it is out of the south, and the light show in the sky is incredible. It really starts to dawn on me, this is one incredible place, and so differant that it's hard to describe the 'holy smokes' feeling I get from just walking on the deck. So I enjoy a long and late soak listening to the creek and counting shooting stars, then sleep like a baby becouse it feels like I'm on vacation even though I'm working my butt off. This house may not be the status symbal sitting on some prestigous street in some houghty nieghborhood, but it is perfectly situated and perfectly designed for where it's at. And where it's at is one of the most awesome spots in Arkansas. What's so cool, is that I found this spot, and then spent a couple of years just daydreaming and perfecting the plan I designed. Making sure that the house sat just right, on the edge of the Gorge and in just the right position to see as much of the creek as possible. The house I believe would be awesome anywhere, but the combination of the house and the site is  a perfect fit. Linking the whole thing together with the trails is going to take it to another level. The whole thing put together is one of my greatest accomplishments, even though I have not accomplished alot. It feels like writing a song that took a long time and alot of work to write. It;s like that with creations, some songs just pour out of you like it's just been waiting to be uncovered from your soul, some songs take months of work and just don't want to be born. I've done it both ways, and the satisfaction is ultimately the same. Oh yea, I gotta get to work. It's gonna be an awesome beautiful day, get out and live it. Peace Out Bros and Sis's

Wish I Was Kayaking

 Seasons of the Gorge

Big rain last night and today, so I let everyone know that the creek was rockin. I don't think anyone jumped on it, but it was BIG. I am so ready to be able to skip out on work and go kayakin it's driving me nuts, but the mission has to be completed. The past 2 years have not been kind to my boating fun, but my day is coming soon. The past 2 days have not been kind to production, and I gotta get it back going. Installing the ceiling is apparently a 3 man job becouse production has dropped thru the floor as I have been at the store the past  couple of days. The payoff hopefully will be in the Home Depot loads I have been processing at the store. I have already scored the following items: 1)real granite vanity tops and undermount sinks for Matt's bathroom and the guest bathroom. 2)assorted lighting fixtures and ceiling fans. 3)cabinets for the mudroom 4)mirrors for bathrooms5) commodes for all bathrooms. Finally I am saving some money again, and it could have been more if we had not already bought all our faucets. All these products are in new shape and of high quality, and exactly in the style that we like. How lucky can you get! Well my goal of having all the ceilings done by the end of the month is certainly in jepordy, but we'll survive. You try not to get used to busted schedules, so I live in a fantasy world and insist that we will be done when I say we will. Well it's getting time to go down and listen to the roar of the Osage, so I'll leave it with some pictures of last years floods. SYITGS  Hollohead

Start the Week Strong

Week 2 of ceiling installation and I hope to complete all of it by friday.  It looks awesome and is one of the best features of the house. I did'nt get much done this weekend, so I guess I will work some nights this week. The big deal now is putting a finish on all this ceiling, I am leaving the scaffolds in place to make it easier to reach all the high stuff. But this is still alot of work, and not something I enjoy. Just gotta get in a zone and do it. My goal is to have all the ceiling installed and with a finish by the end of january, a doable goal with hard work. After that, it's time to start on interior woodwork and paint. Of course there are a million things to decide on , order, deliver to mill, pick up, and install. But momentum is building everyday and I gotta keep at it everyday so I can get my life back. Speaking of that, it will be strange after a year of building a house to get back to some daily routine of whatever work I do. I worked at the store saturday, and I truly enjoy doing that, but I wonder if we might get something going on our dream of building luxury treehouses and I could just do that. Who knows, I keep an open mind and even though I'm gettin older, still believe I got my best music left in me. Wake up Roger!! time to get after it. I'll get some pics today and post them later.  SYOTRS RJ